Turning an exhibition inside out

By Ping Lo

Earlier this month the Australian War Memorial defied the cold winter nights when it displayed some highlights from its exhibition 'Icon and Archive' by projecting the images onto the building itself - and inviting the public to come and take their own photos of the event.

Earlier this month the Australian War Memorial turned the typical experience of a cold July evening on its head.

At a time when most of us might have felt inclined scurrying in the cold from point A to point B as quickly as possible without paying much attention to the world we're passing by, the Australian War Memorial enticed us to tarry a while and appreciate a series of photos from their exhibition Icon and Archive: photography and the world wars. The point of difference with these exhibition highlights is that they were being displayed on the Australian War Memorial building itself.

Between 5pm and 10pm from Friday 10 July to Sunday 12 July a number of the most striking images from Icon and Archive, a collection of photos taken during the world wars, were brought to life as their 10 metre tall likenesses were beamed onto the Australian War Memorial building in the crisp winter darkness.

666 ABC Canberra listener Vic Dobos was one of a number of the public who went along to the display. He set up a (temporary) camp on one side of the Australian War Memorial and took a series of incredible photos, the best of which he has given to us.

Icon and Archive is one of the many exhibitions happening in the capital as part of the Vivid National Photography Festival.